Archive for the ‘Recoating’ Category

HomerWood collections recall an age of fine quality & expert craftsmanship. They hand select each plank from sustainable, center-cut lumber to reveal the character & beauty created by nature. From these planks they handcraft & custom design exceptional hardwood floors for those who seek style, elegance, & individuality.

Their collections range from classic to contemporary designs offering a range of beautiful species, colors, styles, textures & surface treatments to suit any personality or lifestyle. Made in America, from American hands & hearts to your home.

Weathered Oaks were created to represent the colors that exposure to the elements bring to the mighty oak. Subtle color changes from plank to plank, & within each plank, give Weathered Oaks a timeless aged appearance.

Kerfkut Flooring recreates the look of classic floors that were constructed with rough cut planks. The hit and miss saw blade cuts left on the surface compliment the vintage nature of the Character-style Hickory planks.

SoHo Maple Floors are inspired by the iconic NYC neighborhood, & pay homage to its artistic community. The natural variation of Hard Maple’s heartwood & sapwood is given an artistic treatment. This wonderful visual compliments a wide range of décor choices.

It’s a fact, your hardwood floor is going to become scratched and dull through general wear and tear over time. It’s best to recoat your floor while it still looks good, prolonging the life of your floor and reducing the number of times it has to be refinished. Recoating will revitalize the shine and get rid of any mild discolorations that haven’t penetrated the wood. By committing to the proper care and maintenance of your hardwood floor, including recoating and refinishing when required, your floor will last for generations.

Recoating vs. Refinishing

Recoating is a simple process, involving thorough cleaning and light sanding (scuffing) of your floor’s last applied layer of finish, before a fresh coat of finish is applied. It rejuvenates your wood floor and extends the life of its protective finish layers.

Recoating is not to be confused with refinishing a hardwood floor. Recoating is suitable if the floor is only mildly scratched and worn, the finish has not worn through, and it does not have a build up of wax or other chemicals. This build-up will create adhesion problems and cause the floor to reject the new finish, resulting in peeling and flaking.

Refinishing hardwood floors involves extensively sanding the floor to expose the wood – necessary when there are deep scratches, damage, or has a build up of wax or chemicals. If the floor has been waxed and has signs of wear that are not remedied by another coat of wax, it is time to refinish.

Can your floor be recoated?

If you are unsure whether or not the floor has a wax coating, you can do your own home test: just wipe a small area with a rag dampened in paint thinner. If the thinner removes the existing finish, the floor has a wax coating and will require complete sanding and refinishing.

To find out if your floor can be recoated, and to ensure compatibility of the new finish, do a small patch test in an inconspicuous area. It is best to use the same finish that was previously applied, as problems such as peeling can occur if an existing coating is not compatible with the new coating. If you don’t know what the existing finish is, you can test the compatibility of a new finish with the following test:

• Start by thoroughly cleaning the area with a wood floor cleaner, then lightly sand it with fine (120 grit) sandpaper.
• Wipe away all traces of dust before applying polyurethane floor finish to the area, wait 24 hours before touching the surface.

After a couple of days the material should show no signs of bubbling. The finish should be smooth, not rippled or of an orange peel like texture, and it shouldn’t flake or peel away (test this by scratching the surface with moderate pressure using a coin). If the surface passes these tests, it should be safe to seal the entire floor. If it does not pass these tests, the floor will need to be completely sanded and refinished.

Instructions for recoating

Once you’re sure your hardwood floor can be recoated, the following steps will ensure a successful application of the new finish coat:

1. Begin by lightly sanding floor using a screening disk. Screening disks are open mesh abrasive screens that are used on rotary buffing machines. Floors in good condition can be screened with 120 grit screens, though if the floor is in poorer shape, 100 or even 80 grit screens are recommended. If you use one of these more aggressive screens, it is advisable to re-screen the floor using a 120 grit screen to remove some of the swirl marks and ensure a nice smooth surface.

2. Sweep and vacuum floor to remove wood dust and dirt.

3. Dampen a tack rag with pure mineral spirits and run the rag over the floor to pick up any fine dust and oily residue. Avoid using rags treated with less refined oil-based materials such as kerosene or wax-based treatments, as they could leave a residue and cause poor adhesion and peeling.

4. Ensure the area is well ventilated and apply the finish to the edges of the floor with a brush, then coat the rest of the floor using a foam or lamb’s wool applicator. Use smooth, even strokes in the direction of the grain. Allow finish to cure completely per the manufacturer’s instructions before walking on the floor.
Tamalpais Hardwood Floors has extensive experience refinishing and installing hardwood floors. For a free estimate in the Bay Area, call 866-987-8686.